Topic Archives: Bourbon

New Belgium Brewing’s latest collaboration is not with a brewery, but with a bourbon distillery. New Belgium Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale is hitting shelves.

The Fort Collins, Colorado brewery touts this beer as an entirely different kind of bourbon-inspired ale. instead of resting this release in barrels on regular barrel staves, Knob Creek soaked and oak spirals signature bourbon, which New Belgium aged on a rye-heavy ale.

“Our Brewhouse team likes to say that we didn’t just develop a custom extraction technology, but rather, a beer-flavoring ‘missile,’ and we’re thrilled to present our newest, innovative venture with the launch of Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale,” says Ross Koenigs, Research and Development Brewer.

He’s not joking about the “missile” innovation. The brewery’s engineers created a missile-shaped vessel where Knob Creek Bourbon-soaked oak spirals and char from used Knob Creek barrels “mingle” with the high rye ale. This extraction includes harvesting the barrel char, plus a blend of toasted oak spirals at varying degrees to bring all the oak and spice into the liquid.

New Belgium Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale is available in 12-ounce bottles and draft now, while supplies last.

Atlanta BrewingKentucky Beer Dad is the next can release coming to the newly re-named brewery’s lineup this weekend.

A few months ago, nearby Max Lager’s collaborated with Atlanta Brewing on ‘Dad Bod‘, a barleywine fermented with lager yeast. Kentucky Beer Dad has taken that collaboration a step further by aging it in Buffalo Trace barrels. Barleywine meets lager meets bourbon barrels.

Presales of 16-ounce 4-pack cans of Atlanta Brewing Kentucky Beer Dad start today and release at the brewery on September 21st.

The Holland, Michigan based brewery’s Dragon’s Milk is easily one of the most iconic barrel-aged imperial stouts in America. Dating as far back as 2014, the brewery started releasing variants to this stout under the “Reserve” moniker. The series has gotten more and more interesting ever since.

This fall, a new limited release rises from the wood – New Holland Banana Coconut Dragon’s Milk. As the name suggests, the brewery aged the imperial stout on bananas, plantains, and coconuts. This fall pastry stout is 11% alcohol by volume.

This release is ridiculous. Phenomenal. Addictive even. The banana balances perfectly with the coconut, which both give way to the chocolatey, oaky vanilla nuances from the wood. This beer is balanced, rich, and nothing short of incredible. If you ask us, drink this beer in abundance. It may win the title as best Reserve Series release yet.

New Holland Banana Coconut Dragon’s Milk is available in 12-ounce bottles and draft as a limited release.

Three TavernsDouble Smack will be available at the Decatur, Georgia based brewery on September 8th.

The brewery celebrated their 4th anniversary last November and a pastry stout dubbed Morning Stout came with it. The breakfast inspired beer is a coffee milk stout brewed with maple, bacon, and bananas. In March, the brewery canned the flavor blast in 12-ounce cans.

In September, Three Taverns Double Smack, an even bigger version of Morning Smack will debut at the brewery.

400 bottles of this boozier version go on sale at 11 am, aged for 11 months in fresh bourbon barrels. Limited to 2 per person.

You know nothing about brewing Jon Snow. Fighting for the throne? Sure. Drinking? Maybe. The fourth and final release this year in the Royal Reserve subset is coming by year’s end – OmmegangGame of Thrones King in the North.

We still don’t have the seventh book in the Fire & Ice Series or a release date for the next season of Game of Thrones. That doesn’t stop Ommegang from keeping the series alive in liquid form.

Ommegang Game of Thrones Kingin the North is set to debut around Christmas, so the brewery has chosen a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout inspired by Jon Snow himself. When we last saw Snow, he was making love to the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen. Let’s assume they sipped a boozy beer like this by the fire afterward.

“I don’t think we’re alone in our hopes for Jon Snow. And for those who missed one of the Collection during the year, we’re pleased to offer the opportunity to get all four at once, along with a glass in which to serve them.” – Doug Campbell, Ommegang President

Ommegang describes King in the North’s flavor as ‘rich and full with notes of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and roasted malt up front followed by smooth bourbon and a hint of oak”. You just add the fur pelts and roaring fire. Try not to behead anyone.

The Royal Reserve Collection started in April with Hand of the Queen, following by Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Next Month is Mother of Dragons, before wrapping up the year with this imperial stout.

Ommegang Game of Thrones King in the North will be available in 750-milliliter bottles, as well as a special multi-bottle gift pack with Game of Thrones glassware.

Allagash Avancé will be available in the brewery’s taproom again on July 14th.

Back in 2013, the Portland, Maine based brewery started purchasing fresh strawberries from Dole’s Orchard in Limington, Maine. The fresh fruit was combined with a strong ale brewed with four different strains of Belgian yeast, as well as multiple sugars including molasses, date sugar, white cane sugar, and dark rock candi.

Avancé is a strong, sour ale with aromas of strawberry preserves and toasted oak. Berries and more oak continue in the flavor, which concludes with a warm, sweet finish.

Allagash Avancé is available in 12.7-ounce bottles in the brewery’s taproom July 14th, alongside Coolship Cerise.

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